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Friday, January 3, 2014

Top 5 Interior Design Elements

With 30+ years in the
interior design industry, I am often asked for my must-have's and go-to’s when
designing a space. Having worked on projects around the world across every sort
of design and architectural plans, I want to share my top 5 absolutes in
interior design.

1. LIGHTING

Lighting is
without a question the single most important thing in a room. Light has to be
exciting. And there are many ways to light a room to make the room cozy. With
beautifully designed lighting, you avoid stuffiness and overwhelming. Natural
light is also very important and a staple of Scandinavian design.

2. ANTIQUES

I always have
to be surrounded by antiques. I love the beauty of the pieces and the history
they hold. You wonder who could have been sitting in that old wooden chair or
looking at themselves behind that gilded mirror. Sleek, iconic mid-century antique
pieces are a staple of Scandinavian design and achieves an understated relaxed
elegance when placed in a room.

3. SWEDISH DESIGN
INFLUENCE

Swedish design is all about mixing humble with grand, traditional
and modern. A pale color palette is Scandinavian hallmark; blues, greens,
greys, whites, light airy colors have been used for years because they reflect
the natural Swedish light. In any room you go to, it will always feel
like summer, always bathed in beautiful natural light that is reflected in the
pale color palette of the room. Painted furniture, miniature floral print
fabrics, nice stripes or checkers in cotton or linen, and wood elements are
also quintessential Swedish elements that make a space inviting and
comfortable.

4. ART & BOOKS

Paintings
and books are very important and give a place a cozy feeling. I like it when
you can move things around and mix and match, and book are the perfect
accessory to subtly change a space. You can fill a wall with them, put stacks
of them on a table, or use as a stand to display an art piece. Art does not
need to be expensive. I very often put a few art pieces together
on one wall and leave the other walls empty. Makes more of
an impact.

4.CHAIRS

Chairs can transform a space from a cold, standing area to a
comfortable room you want to spend time in. Chairs are an invitation to sit and
enjoy. Placing chairs in the bedroom makes it personal and calm. Putting chairs
around the living areas also encourage movement, allowing you to constantly
redesign and rethink the space in accordance with what's happening at that
moment.